Summary of Contents for Universal Laser Systems V-400
Page 1
V-400 Laser Engraving and Cutting System Safety, Installation, Operation, and Basic Maintenance Manual Universal Laser Systems, Inc. 16008 North 81st Street Scottsdale, AZ 85260 USA Customer Support Department Phone: 480-609-0297 Fax: 480-609-1203 Web Based Email Support: www.ulsinc.com May 2001...
Page 2
Notice This publication and its contents are proprietary to Universal Laser Systems, Inc. (ULS), and are intended solely for the contractual use of ULS, Inc. customers. While reasonable efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of this manual, ULS shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damage in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
Page 3
We would like to thank you for purchasing the V-400 Laser Platform. Years of testing and refinements have made this unit the ultimate laser engraving and cutting system. With it’s small footprint design and industry standard 24” x 18” work area, the V-400 Laser Platform is now equipped with our unique “Rapid Reconfiguration Capability ”.
Table of Contents SECTION 1 - Safety Description of Appropriate Use ..................1-1 General Safety ......................... 1-1 Laser Safety ........................1-2 Safety Labels ........................1-3 EU Compliance (CE)......................1-6 FCC Compliance......................1-7 SECTION 2 - Installation Operating Environment ....................2-1 Electrical Requirements ....................
Page 5
Setting the Drivers Properties ..................4-3 Downloading the File......................4-3 Starting the Engraving Process ..................4-4 Material Removing and Reloading................... 4-5 SECTION 5 - Options & Accessories 3D Effects......................... 5-1 Rotary Fixture........................5-5 Cutting Table........................5-6 Air Assist System ......................5-7 Air Assist Compressor......................
Page 6
SECTION 7 - Maintenance Suggested Cleaning and Maintenance Supplies ............. 7-1 System Cleaning ......................7-3 Optics Cleaning........................ 7-3 AUTOFOCUS Sensor and Reflector................7-6 Adjustments and Lubrication.................... 7-7 Electronic Upgrading......................7-7 Fuse Replacement ......................7-7 Battery Replacement......................7-7 Cooling Fan Filter(s)......................7-8 Maintenance Schedule.....................
SECTION 1 Safety This section describes hazards that may occur if the laser is installed or used improperly. WARNING: Failure to follow these guidelines can result in injury to yourself, others, or may cause severe damage to the equipment and your facility. Use of the equipment in a manner other than what is described in this manual may increase this risk.
Health division of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA. It also complies with CE (European Community) safety regulations. No guarantees of suitability or safety are provided for any use other than those specified by Universal Laser Systems, Inc. Laser Safety •...
DO NOT remove them for any reason. If the labels become damaged or have been removed for any reason, DO NOT OPERATE the laser system and immediately contact Universal Laser Systems, Inc. for a free replacement. Labels are NOT to scale 221-0004-0...
Safety EU Compliance (CE) Product Identification: V-400 Laser Engraving and Cutting System Manufacturer: Universal Laser Systems, Inc. 16008 N. 81 Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Phone: (480) 483-1214 Fax: (480) 483-5620 This equipment Is manufactured in conformity with the following directives: 89/336/EEC...
Safety FCC Compliance This ULS laser system has been tested and found to comply with Federal Communication Commission (FCC) directives regarding Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC). In accordance with these directives ULS is required to provide the following information to its customers. FCC Compliance Statement and Warnings This device complied with FCC Rules Part 15.
SECTION 2 Installation Proper operating conditions are vital to a safe and productive environment. This section describes the ideal environment and setup of the laser system. Operating Environment Follow these guidelines to ensure a proper operating environment for the laser system. Operating the laser system outside of these guidelines can seriously damage the laser system and damages from this type of abuse WILL NOT be covered under warranty.
Installation • If planning to connect the laser engraving system to a computer through the parallel port, choose a location where the computer will be placed within 6 feet of the machine since this is the maximum recommended parallel cable length. Included with your system is a high quality, IEEE1284 compliant, 6-foot parallel printer cable.
Installation If electrical power fluctuations, brown outs, or constant power outages are a problem in your area, an electrical line stabilizer, UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), or backup generator might be required. If installing any of these devices, make sure that they meet the electrical requirements of the laser system.
Page 17
Installation DO NOT install forward incline, backward incline, in-line, or ventilator fans because these types of air handlers are inadequate and inappropriate for this type of installation. If your contractor has any questions concerning blower specifications or exhaust system requirements, please contact our Service Department directly before installation.
Installation Cart Assembly Since packaging of this unit may vary from time to time, make sure that you locate the following items from within the crate or inside of the front door of the system: (A) Back Panel (B) Legs (both are identical) (C) 10-32 x 3/8 socket head screws with lock washers and flat washers (2) (D) Guide pins (factory installed) (E) Nuts (4)
Page 19
Installation 9. Note the lifting points as shown. With the assistance of one or two other people, carefully lift the laser system and place it onto the cart assembly being careful not to drop it or pinch your fingers. 10. Thread the remaining two screws and lockwashers (C) through the tabs on the back panel (A) and into the backside of the laser system.
Installation Laser Cartridge Installation Before connecting and powering on your system, you must install the Laser Cartridge. Make sure that your power cord IS NOT plugged in at this time. With your fingers, press on the backside of the two hinges to release the latch. Gently fold back the rear cover.
Page 21
Installation Pick up the Laser Cartridge by the sides. Tilt the Laser Cartridge downward on a 30-degree angle. Mount the cartridge onto the Mounting Blocks by placing the upper “V” groove of the cartridge on top of the Mounting Blocks. Slide the cartridge to the right until the Alignment Plate of the Laser Cartridge makes contact with the inside of the large plate of the Alignment Fork and is centered in the gap in the Alignment Fork between the small and large plates of the Alignment Fork.
Installation Laser Cooling Requirements This type of laser system uses fans to keep the laser cartridge and electronics cooled during operation. Maintain the room temperature at the recommended ambient temperature range outlined previously in the Operating Environment section. Do not confine the back of the machine by surrounding it with furniture, shelving, backing it into a corner, etc.
2-10 Installation Bitmap / Scanning Software • Adobe Photoshop • Adobe Streamline - for raster to vector conversion CAD Software • AutoCAD for Windows • AutoCAD LT for Windows • Autosketch for Windows • DesignCAD for Windows CAD users do not necessarily need Windows or Windows compatible programs. The laser system is compatible with any program that can output standard HPGL commands whether it is Windows based or not.
Installation 2-11 Making the Connections Please use the parallel cable supplied with the system. It is a 6-foot, high quality, shielded, IEEE1284 compliant cable. If you use a printer cable other than the one provided, it will violate the laser systems FCC and CE rating and may also cause harmful interference when downloading files to the laser system.
2-12 Installation Problem Prevention The following are things that you MUST NEVER do: 1) Never connect or disconnect the printer cable while either the computer or the laser system is powered ON. Always power down both units and leave them plugged into the wall outlet when connecting or disconnecting the printer cable.
SECTION 3 System Operation In this section you will learn how the laser system actually works and will familiarize you with laser system terminology. We will then start working with the control panel and learn how to get around in the menu system. Since there are many features in this laser system, the menu system may seem complicated at first, but once you start using it, you will find out that it is a very simple system to operate.
Page 27
System Operation Laser Cartridge The laser cartridge is a very sophisticated device. It is composed of a plasma tube filled with a special mixture of CO2 and other gases, and RF (radio frequency) electronics. The function of the entire assembly is to turn electrical energy into concentrated light energy. The word LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
System Operation The “Focal Range” of the lens, where the beam is considered to be “in focus”, is equivalent to +/- 5% above and below the focus point. Shorter lenses produce a smaller spot size but also have a very narrow focal range. This means that it would only be useful for engraving very flat objects.
Page 29
System Operation The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) The LCD is a four line display that displays the menus that control the laser system. It is a backlit type of display that enhances visibility even under low light environments. When the laser system is powered on, the laser system will perform a series of routines. “INITIALIZING”...
Page 30
System Operation Green Indicator Light CONDITION REASON The laser system is powered up, the top door is closed and the system is ready to receive a file The laser system has finished processing a file and has returned to the home position The laser system has been paused while running a file The top or front door is open...
Page 31
System Operation The “NEXT FILE” button displays the next file in the systems memory and makes it the current file and will stop at the last file in memory. The “PREV FILE” button displays the previous file in the systems memory and makes it the current file and will stop at the first file in memory. These buttons are inoperative if a file is currently running.
System Operation The Menu System The LCD displays the menus of the laser system. Since this laser system has many features, we have included a “Menu System Flow Chart” on the next three pages. It diagrams and displays the menu items in the entire system and the button selections needed to access them. A description of each menu item follows the flow chart.
System Operation MODEL NAME VERSION XX-XX-XX-XX Menu Descriptions The remainder of this section will describe each one of the menus and their significance. READY Menu When the system is first powered on “INITIALIZING” will appear for approximately 30 seconds until the laser system finishes performing its routine. When the system has finished initializing, “READY”...
Page 35
3-10 System Operation FILE DISPLAY Menu Appears automatically after the first file is downloaded completely into the laser systems memory. This is the menu that you will remain in most of the time when operating the laser system. It has been designed to show all pertinent operating information at a glance so that constantly jumping from menu to menu is not needed.
Page 36
System Operation 3-11 There are two ways that a downloaded file will have a missing EOF. The first is if printing through the printer driver and printing is canceled, interrupted, or file size exceeds the remaining free memory space. If this occurs, chances are that the EOF never made it to the memory buffer and the memory buffer will show that it is empty or that the file does not exist.
Page 37
3-12 System Operation The Printer Driver compresses the file while it downloads to the laser system and the laser system decompresses the file while it runs. The amount of compression can be as little as 4 to 1 or as great as 48 to 1. This means that with 4 MB of RAM in the laser system, the buffer could hold the equivalent of 192MB worth of files provided they can be compressed 48 to 1.
Page 38
System Operation 3-13 DOS POWER SETTINGS Menu The laser system allows eight different power settings to be saved, in non-volatile (permanent) memory, and used when processing a DOS based file. Since DOS based printer/plotter drivers do not have the ability to set the “POWER”, “SPEED”, and “PPI” settings, the settings must be set manually on the laser system.
Page 39
3-14 System Operation OPTIONS Menu Selecting this menu will allow the access to turn on certain options that the laser system might have. ONE FILE MEMORY Menu Pressing “SELECT” key while cursor is on this line will toggle the setting on and off. When off, it enables the multiple file memory buffer system (default).
Page 40
System Operation 3-15 AIR ASSIST Menu This class of laser system does have Air Assist as an option, but it is not computer controlled. Since we use the same menu system on other models, this menu selection for your model does absolutely nothing.
Page 41
3-16 System Operation To restore the focus position back to the original factory setting, go back into this menu and press the up and down arrow keys simultaneously. You will see the motion system move to the 1 inch horizontal and the 1 inch vertical position (factory default).
Page 42
System Operation 3-17 If you would like to get the Rotary axis back to the original factory default setting, go back into the “SET ROTARY AXIS” menu. While in this menu, press the up arrow and down arrow keys simultaneously. The arm move will move back to its original factory default setting. Select “YES SAVE Y-AXIS”, and then press the “ESCAPE”...
Page 43
3-18 System Operation In order to use the “SERIAL” port, the communication settings MUST match those of the computer. Refer to the computer’s hardware and software manuals for details on setting up the computer’s serial port. If using the “SERIAL” port, select the fastest possible “BAUD” rate for communication since this effects how quickly the computer can send files to the laser system.
Page 44
System Operation 3-19 DIAGNOSTICS Menu This menu leads to other menus that enable you to help diagnose problems, if they occur, with the laser system. It also will help our technicians solve problems that you may be experiencing. ALIGNMENT MODE Menu This menu allows access to firing the laser beam manually to determine if the laser systems optical alignment is correct.
Page 45
3-20 System Operation MODEL NAME VERSION XX-XX-XX-XX ABOUT Menu Use the up and down arrow buttons to position the cursor on this menu item. Press the “SELECT” button and our copyright notice along with the current versions of firmware will be displayed.
System Operation 3-21 Setting a new origin other than the default (0,0) position will shrink your field size. If you already have files already loaded into memory that utilize the entire engraving area, and you set a new origin, part of that graphic might fall out of the effective printing area. If you run this file, unexpected results can occur that might destroy your material in the engraving area.
Page 47
3-22 System Operation The cursor in the display will be flashing on top of the tenths digit. You can now move the table up or down by pressing either the up or down arrow button. If you push the button once and let go quickly, the table will move in .1 inch increments.
Page 48
System Operation 3-23 If you find that you need to place your materials in a position other than the upper left hand corner, you can change the default focus position to anywhere in the field that you like. Please refer to that menu item selection earlier in this section. The Material Thickness (Z POSITION) Method The second method is to enter in the thickness of the material into the “Z POSITION”...
Page 49
The AUTOFOCUS sensor sends out an invisible beam across the table between the 1 inch and the 3 inch mark in the Y axis ruler for the M-300 Platform and the 2 and 4 inch mark for the V-400, X-600 and X2-600 Platform laser systems. You will notice that it is indented slightly.
Page 50
System Operation 3-25 To Adjust AUTOFOCUS: From time to time, you may need to re-adjust your AUTOFOCUS. The only time that you should need to re-adjust the AUTOFOCUS is when you have received a new or different length Focus Lens, have recently Flash upgraded the operating system of the laser, or had a dirty sensor or reflector and are adjusting it after you have cleaned those parts.
SECTION 4 Running the System Step by Step In this section we will cover how to completely use the laser system to create a product from start to finish. From powering on everything to removing the finished product from the system, we will cover the entire process step by step.
Running the System Step by Step Focusing Before attempting to adjust the focal height, visually check to make sure that the table is down low enough to prevent the focus carriage from hitting into the piece of wood. With the top door still open, press the “Z” button on the control panel of the laser system. You will see the focus carriage move to the (1,1) position directly over the piece of wood.
Running the System Step by Step It does not matter whether you bring the table up to go out of focus, or down, the effect is the same. You should experiment on some scrap material at another time and note the difference. In this example, we will engrave in precise focus.
Running the System Step by Step Find the “PRINT” command within your graphics program and click on it. Depending on which graphics program you are using, the menu command “PRINT” may be in various locations within your program. Usually after clicking on “PRINT”, you will then need to click on “OK”. A status screen may now appear showing a percentage of completion.
Running the System Step by Step We will also remind you again to please comply with the warning label below. Material Removing and Reloading Once the laser system has completed processing you material, the laser beam will turn off, the motion system will move to its home position in the upper right hand corner, the system will beep twice, and the green light on the control panel will glow continuously.
SECTION 5 Options & Accessories There are several options and accessories available for this laser system. The new 3D Effects option is now available as a standard feature. The Rotary Fixture, Cutting Table, Air Assist System, Air Assist Compressor, various Focus Lens Kits, and the Dual Head option are available at additional cost.
Page 57
Options & Accessories PLACE STAMP IN AN PLACE STAMP IN AN UNUSED AREA UNUSED AREA PREVIOUSLY GRAPHICS SOFTWARE GRAPHICS SOFTWARE COMPLETED PAGE LAYOUT PAGE LAYOUT STAMPS 11 INCHES ( 292.1 mm) WIDE 11 INCHES ( 292.1 mm) WIDE 8.5 INCHES ( 215.9 mm) TALL 8.5 INCHES ( 215.9 mm) TALL LANDSCAPE MODE LANDSCAPE MODE...
Page 58
Options & Accessories 5-3 Settings for a 30 Watt System There is a considerable difference between rubber blends, thickness, and hardness between different manufacturers. Use these setting as a starting point for a 30 Watt system. You might need to experiment with different settings to obtain the desired results. As you can see, we set the page size in the driver equal to the graphics programs page size.
Page 59
Options & Accessories Full Sheet Method The second method is to create a full sheet of rubber stamps and engrave them all at the same time. First create a stamp as a positive image as shown below. Create more stamps to fill the entire page. They can be the same stamp or different ones. If desired, output the page to a paper printer for proofreading.
Options & Accessories 5-5 In the laser systems printer driver, use the same settings as the previous example but with only minor modifications. In the “3D Effects” tab, select all three “Special” options; “Add Shoulder”, “Print as Negative Image” and “Print as Mirror Image” as the diagram below illustrates. Print to the laser system.
Options & Accessories The Rotary Fixture is placed on the engraving table as the following diagram illustrates. Please refer to the instructions supplied with the Rotary Fixture on how to properly install and use this option. Cutting Table The purpose of the Cutting Table is to support the material that you are cutting off of the engraving table’s surface to minimize surface contact area.
Options & Accessories 5-7 Air Assist System The Air Assist System consists of a nozzle that attaches to the focus carriage, Optics protection adapters, tubing, mounting brackets, needle valve, and pressure gauge. The purpose of this system is to force air or other types of gases directly onto the surface of your material to reduce the burning effects of the laser beam and helps disperse the smoke and gases created when cutting or engraving materials.
Options & Accessories Focus Lens Kits There are three optional Focus Lens Kits available other than the standard 2.0”, they are the 1.5”, 2.5”, and the 4.0” kits. Included in these kits are the focus lens, #3 mirror, front plate, thumbscrews, and a focus tool.
Page 64
Options & Accessories 5-9 Refer to the following chart for spot sizes and focal ranges of the lenses available. FOCAL LENGTH SPOT SIZE FOCAL RANGE 1.5 “ .003 “ + / - .075 “ 2.0 “ .005 “ + / - .100 “ 2.5 “...
SECTION 6 Sample Materials This section provides sample driver settings and helpful hints to get started engraving and/or cutting the materials listed. Safety NEVER LEAVE THE LASER SYSTEM RUNNING UNATTENDED FOR ANY REASON. Exposure to the laser beam can cause ignition of combustible materials. All laser cutting and engraving should be constantly supervised.
Sample Materials NOTICE Laser engraving or cutting materials other than those described in this manual can be a safety hazard and can damage the laser system. The laser system operator is liable for any damages caused, in whole or in part, for any economic loss, physical injury, lost revenue, lost profits, lost savings or other indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages incurred.
Sample Materials NOTE When engraving very small objects, top speed cannot be achieved because acceleration and deceleration of the motion system requires time and distance. The laser system will automatically adjust itself to a maximum engraving speed that it can achieve due to the size and position of the graphic.
Page 69
Sample Materials COMMENTS There are two types of acrylic available, cast and extruded. Cast turns white or frosted and extruded remains clear when engraved. Use extruded acrylic for paint filled engraving and cast for regular engraving. Cast engraves better without masking. Lightly engrave the surface to frost it with a low power setting such as the first setting listed above.
Page 71
Sample Materials COMMENTS Engraving mirrored acrylic is similar to engraving regular acrylic. The idea is to engrave through the mirrored backing enough to begin to penetrate into the acrylic. Engraving deeply will cause a crusty residue to form just like with non-mirrored acrylic. A double image will appear if engraving on the front side of the mirror.
6-12 Sample Materials DELRIN (SEAL PRESS) RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .015” .015” .015” .015” .015” .015” .015” .015” VECTOR CUTTING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .060” .060” .060” .060” .060” .060” .060” .060” COMMENTS The laser system can be used to make dies for seal presses.
Sample Materials 6-15 MARBLE RASTER ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” VECTOR ENGRAVING LASER WATTAGE POWER SPEED PASS DEPTH .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” .003” COMMENTS Most marble and polished stones will turn white when engraved. Masking is not necessary and light engraving works out better than heavy and deep engraving.
Page 87
Sample Materials 6-23 be easier to flood the masking, after engraving, with water. This will loosen the tape and it can be easily removed by rubbing it off by hand. In the vector cutting example, the wood was elevated from the table to let smoke and heat escape from underneath. If elevating the wood, mask and/or dampen the bottom side of the wood very lightly and the water acts as a heat sink to prevent the underside from flaming and charring.
SECTION 7 Maintenance Keeping the laser system clean will ensure the highest quality engraving. The frequency of cleaning will depend entirely on the type of material being engraved, the performance of your exhaust blower, the operating environment, and the amount of laser system usage over a given period of time.
Maintenance 7-3 System Cleaning • Turn off and unplug the laser system. • Open the Top Door and thoroughly remove all loose dirt and debris from inside the machine with a vacuum cleaner. • Clean the Engraving Table surface with either a soap solution, alcohol, or acetone, and paper towels.
Page 91
Maintenance #2 Mirror To gain access to the #2 Mirror, the mirror cover must be removed. Remove the thumbscrew, slide the cover to the right slightly and lift straight up. Inspect the #2 Mirror and clean it only if there is debris present. There are two ways to clean the mirror, with a moistened cotton swab or a moistened lens tissue.
Page 92
Maintenance 7-5 #3 Mirror and Focus Lens You must remove the front cover to the Focus Carriage to gain access to the #3 Mirror and the Focus Lens. To do this, hold the front cover with one hand and with the other hand, remove the three(3) thumbscrews that attach the front cover to the Focus Carriage, and pull the front cover straight out.
Maintenance Beam Window The Beam Window is where the laser beam enters into the engraving area. It is located in the upper left hand corner of the engraving area against the back wall and is yellow in color. It is not necessary to remove the Beam Window for cleaning since it can only get dirty on the front side.
Maintenance 7-7 Adjustments and Lubrication There are no periodic adjustments required. The bearings in the motion system will self adjust to take up any clearances as they begin to wear. The belts are fiber reinforced and will not stretch under normal use so that periodic tension adjustment is not necessary. Optical alignment is not necessary because the laser and the #2 Mirror are fixed.
Maintenance Cooling Fan Filters This air-cooled laser system will require periodic cleaning of the cooling fan filters. Since ambient air is used to cool the laser tube, FILTERS the air must be filtered before it enters the inside of the laser system otherwise dirt and dust can build up inside of the laser system and damage it.
Appendix B - Specifications Model Number V-400 Resolution 1000 x 1000 DPI, 500 x 500 DPI, 333 x 333 DPI, 250 x 250 DPI 200 x 200 DPI, Draft Computer Interface Windows 95, 98, and HPGL Table Size 29” x 23” (736.6 mm x 584.2 mm) Work Area 24”...
Appendix C - Using DOS Based Programs DOS software is not standardized and each application will work differently. When using DOS applications, it is not possible to print through the Windows Printer Driver and for this situation, the system has been designed to automatically emulate a Hewlett Packard plotter. Plotters use a special language called HPGL that the laser system has been designed to accept.
Appendix D - Using Macintosh Computers The laser system has primarily been designed to run under the Windows 95 or Windows 98 operating system. There is no Macintosh Driver available for this Platform at this time, however, there may be one in the future.
Page 105
Appendix E - Serial Port Cable Requirements...
Step 4: If your local Sales Representative is unavailable, contact our Customer Service Department at: Universal Laser Systems, Inc. Technical Support/Parts Department 16008 North 81 Street...
Need help?
Do you have a question about the V-400 and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers